Matthew Stephens

About

Based in Austin with over 25 years at the intersection of design, technology, and business. As a fractional design leader, I collaborate with early-stage to Series C startups to build robust design and research capabilities that drive innovation and accelerate growth. I specialize in establishing and scaling teams that deliver exceptional customer experiences in competitive markets. Previously, as VP of Design at The Zebra, a billion-dollar insurtech company, I built a high-performing design organization of 22 amazing individuals, increasing annual net revenue from $1M to $100M while maintaining a 100% team retention rate. Before that, I co-founded DeviantArt.com, the world’s largest art community with over 550 million works of art and 75 million users, gaining firsthand experience in operating and leading at the largest scale.

Experience

• Chief Design + AI Officer · ZAG International2025-03-01 –

  At ZAG, I lead brand, strategy, and design—repositioning the company from an industrial supplier to a tech-enabled sustainability brand. I drive everything from brand development, website design, AI integration, and automation strategy.

• Fractional Head of Design · REALLY2022-09-01 –

  At REALLY, I lead design and product strategy for a privacy-first wireless carrier built from the ground up. I own the user experience—from dashboard UX to brand voice to onboarding flows—making privacy features like encrypted calling, private browsing, and location masking usable and human. We’re building the anti-carrier: honest, anonymous, and radically user-first.

• Fractional Head of Design · Lady Bird Talent2020-07-01 –
• Member, Design Leadership Forum · InVision2019-02-01 –

  The mission is to advance the practice of design leadership by fostering a community where the world’s best can learn from one another. We strive to make the Forum inclusive and relevant to those confronting the challenges of leading design teams.

• Fractional Head of Design · Marble2020-12-01 – 2024-01-01
• Fractional Head of Design · Renew2021-08-01 – 2022-10-01

  Served as a Fractional Design Leader, driving innovation and building design as a discipline within the org. Played a key role in hiring and mentoring the company's first full-time designer, while defining design processes and fostering a collaborative environment for improved product and brand experiences.

• Fractional Head of Design · Homebuyer.com2020-12-01 – 2022-01-01
• VP of Design · The Zebra2018-06-01 – 2020-09-01

  Design org leader who built and managed teams dedicated to product design, marketing design, design ops, and research. I also worked with other leaders to apply design thinking across the organization.

• Lead Product Designer · The Zebra2016-09-01 – 2018-06-01
• Head of Design · OneSpot2008-04-01 – 2014-04-01

Education

• The University of Texas at AustinBS, Radio-Television-Film, Digital Media
• Second Wave DiveStrategic Business Thinking for Designers

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